Month: October 2016

The Hill Billies (aka Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters) recorded Sally Ann at their first-ever recording date, a January 1925 session for the OKeh label. They would re-record the the following year for release on Brunswick and Vocalion. Though this performance is in C major, Sally Ann is often played in other keys, more commonly…

This transcription is based on a performance of East Tennessee Blues recorded by the dual-monikered group Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters/ The Hill Billies. It was recorded in New York City on October 21st, 1926, and released as Vocalion # 5016 (credited to The Hill Billies) and Brunswick # 103 (credited to Al Hopkins…

The Hill Billies, aka Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters, recorded Texas Gals at an October 22nd, 1926, session in New York City. It was released as Vocalion # 5021, paired with Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad. Texas Gals is a three-part tune in C major. The middle strain is very similar to the second strain of Billy…

Fiddlin’ Doc Roberts recorded New Money at an August 24th, 1928, session in Richmond, Indiana. It was paired with Shoot That Turkey Buzzard, and released as Gennett # 6775. It also saw a release on the Supertone label (# 9355), credited to his oft-used pseudonym, Fiddlin’ Jim Burke. This is the only commercial recording of New Money under that title…

The Hill Billies (aka Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters) recorded Mississippi Sawyer at their second recording session, an April 30th, 1926, date for Vocalion. The recording features four Hopkinses: Elmer, Al, Joe, and John. The band would never again realize such a Hopkins density. Tony Russell’s Country Music Records lists 13 recordings of Mississippi Sawyer made before…

Fiddlin’ Doc Roberts recorded Waynesburgh at an August 26th, 1927, session in Richmond, Indiana. His recording is the only recording of this tune under this title to be released before 1942. It was released as Gennett # 6257, as well as on the Gennett-affiliated labels Champion (# 15549, credited to Fiddlin’ Jim Burke), Silvertone (# 5078…